A comedian will appear in court today charged with going on to a football pitch ahead of a big Premier League match.

Simon Brodkin, 35, was held by police after a man was seen limbering up alongside star players ahead of Manchester City's away game against Everton at Goodison Park on March 16.

Brodkin is the star and host of his own BBC3 series, Lee Nelson's Well Good Show, but was not filming for the broadcaster that day, a BBC spokesman said.

Merseyside Police charged him with going on to the playing area, contrary to the Football Offences Act, and he will appear at North Liverpool Community Justice Centre, Boundary Street, Liverpool, at 9.45am.